In the golden glow of a Sydney summer evening, 10-year-old Matilda—affectionately known to her family as their “Little Sweet Bee”—radiated pure happiness just seconds before tragedy struck. Newly surfaced photographs and videos from the Chanukah by the Sea celebration at Bondi Beach on December 14, 2025, capture the young girl in moments of unbridled joy: smiling broadly with face paint adorning her cheeks, cuddling farm animals in a petting zoo, wrapping her arm proudly around her younger sister Summer, and laughing carefree under the sunshine. These images, shared by family and event photographer Amir Glazer, stand as heartbreaking testaments to a child who “never stopped buzzing with happiness,” as her loved ones described her. Tragically, these were among Matilda’s last moments before she became the youngest victim of Australia’s deadliest terrorist attack, a mass shooting that claimed 15 lives during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah.

Matilda, whose middle name was Bee, embodied the spirit of childhood innocence. Born in Australia to Ukrainian immigrant parents Michael and Valentyna, who had fled war-torn Eastern Europe seeking a safer life, she was named after the iconic Australian folk song “Waltzing Matilda”—a nod to the country that became their haven. Her father often called her his “Little Sweet Bee,” a nickname that perfectly captured her energetic, joyful nature. She was a “bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her,” as her language teacher Irina Goodhew remembered. Matilda loved animals, the outdoors, dancing, and school, where she had recently won a national literacy prize, delighting her teachers and classmates with her radiant smile and infectious laugh. Inseparable from her 6-year-old sister Summer—whom family described as “like twins”—Matilda spent her days buzzing with excitement, spreading happiness wherever she went.

The family had arrived at Bondi Beach that Sunday afternoon filled with anticipation for the community Hanukkah event organized by Chabad of Bondi. Hundreds gathered at Archer Park overlooking the iconic waves, enjoying a petting zoo, face painting, music, and the lighting of a giant menorah to mark the festival of lights. Videos released by the family show Matilda blissfully playing on the grass, her face painted with colorful designs, petting goats and other animals with wide-eyed wonder. In one poignant frame captured around 6:45 p.m.—just minutes before the horror unfolded—she poses beaming with her parents and sister, her arm draped lovingly around Summer. Photographer Amir Glazer, working at the event, recalled printing these family portraits on the spot, handing them to delighted attendees. “She was so happy, full of life,” he later reflected, unaware that these would become cherished final mementos.

At approximately 6:47 p.m., the atmosphere shattered. Two gunmen—alleged father-and-son duo Sajid and Naveed Akram, inspired by Islamic State ideology according to authorities—opened fire from an elevated position, targeting the crowd in an antisemitic assault. Chaos erupted as families fled for cover. Matilda, running toward safety with her loved ones, was struck. Witnesses described the terror of seeing innocent revelers, including children, caught in the indiscriminate barrage. Emergency services rushed victims to hospitals, but despite valiant efforts at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Matilda succumbed to her injuries. Her death, witnessed in part by her sister, left an indelible scar on her family and the nation.

The attack killed 15 people in total, ranging in age from 10 to 87, including rabbis, a Holocaust survivor, community volunteers, and heroes who shielded others. It marked Australia’s worst mass shooting in decades, prompting national outrage, vigils, and calls for stronger measures against hate speech and antisemitism. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese vowed new laws to combat division, while communities united in solidarity.

Matilda’s funeral on December 18 at Chevra Kadisha Memorial Hall in Sydney became a sea of bees—a poignant tribute to her nickname. Mourners wore purple bee stickers (her favorite color), carried bee balloons, and placed plush bumblebees atop her small white casket. Hundreds overflowed the hall, including dignitaries, as rabbis eulogized her as a “little ray of sunshine” whose compassion and laughter brightened lives. Her school tribute highlighted her gift for joy, while Rabbi Yehoram Ulman spoke of the unfathomable loss of a child with so much promise. “Her spirit remains an active obligation for the living,” he urged, calling for kindness in her memory.

Her aunt Lina Chernykh, fighting tears, described Matilda as an angel spreading love, pleading for the community to respond with happiness rather than anger. “Maybe she’s an angel now, sending good vibes to the world,” she said. Parents Michael and Valentyna, devastated refugees who sought peace in Australia only to face unimaginable violence, shared raw grief at memorials. Valentyna recounted seeing her daughter “running around happy” one moment, then lying wounded the next. Michael found solace in knowing Matilda felt loved in her final moments.

Memorials at Bondi Pavilion swelled with tributes: flowers, candles, and countless bees—plush toys, drawings, balloons—transforming the site into a symbol of remembrance. Crowds sang “Waltzing Matilda” in her honor, while fundraisers surpassed goals to support the family. Nationwide vigils and a day of reflection honored all victims, but Matilda’s youthful face became the focal point of collective sorrow—a child whose buzzing energy was silenced too soon.

In the aftermath, Australia grapples with rising antisemitism and gun access, but Matilda’s legacy endures as one of light. Her photos—smiling, soaked in sunshine, arm around her sister—remind the world of stolen innocence. Known forever as Little Sweet Bee, she buzzed briefly but brightly, leaving a nation to carry her joy forward amid profound grief. As holidays approach shadowed by loss, her family and community cling to memories of a girl who embodied happiness, urging healing through love in her name.